Closure means for containers



Jan. 10, 1939. c. H. BRINTON CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 15, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. CHRIST/AN ,H. BR/N ro/v %Mza/Me A TTORNEYS.

E'qll Jan. 10, 1939. c. H. BRINTON 2,142,992

CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 15, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. CHRIS TIA/V. H. BR/NTON.

A TTORN E YS.

Jan. 10, 1939. c H BRINTQN 2,142,992

CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 15, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

l 42 cums mm H. BR/NTON- I-Tq 101010:

1939- c. H. BRINTON 2, 42,992

CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 15, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. CHRIST-MN H. BRINTO/V A TTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 10, 1939 PATENT OFFICE CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Christian H. Brinton, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Standard Cap and Seal Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Virginia Application December 13, 1933, Serial No. 702,128

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in container closures, the invention being particularly designed and adapted for use as a sanitary closure or cover for milk bottles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle-closure of inexpensive construction that will completely cover the bottle beading around the mouth of the bottle and prevent the accumulation of dirt or other foreign matter in the bottle mouth, and which can be easily removed from the bottle without the use of a tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover-all cap or closure for bottles fashioned and scored from an integral blank of fibrous sheet material such as paper material, and formed upon the bottle bead, so as to produce impervious spaced plaits, folded in various configurations, the plaits being preferably spaced around the cap periphery, and held in said position by means, carried by or forming a part of the cap skirt, said means being arranged to overlap or envelop the plait or plaits.

A further and important object of this invention consists in providing a metal tab or other means forming part of or attached to the hood skirt of a cover-all caplfor retaining the cap upon a container, the cap having triangular shaped plaits placed about the cap periphery, or spaced plaits formed in pairs and folded towards each other, each tab or metal means capable of enveloping or securing a plait or pair of plaits.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cover-all cap which may be fed in fiat blank form to a capping machine, and to desired cover applying position, where it may be applied to a bottle and secured thereon by means carried by or forming a part of the cover blank.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combination of parts, elemen*s per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawings of a form'of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

Figure I is a top plan view of a cover-all cap 5 blank having a section in its complete form including the plait securing tabs and also show ing the blank formation or ribbon form in which the cap blanks may be made and delivered to a capping machine in the direction shown by the arrow.

Figures II, III and IV are portions of a cap blank illustrating additional forms of the invention showing the plait securing tabs are constructed of metal and illustrating the method of securing the same to the cap blank.

Figure V is a side view of my invention embodying a metal tab as shown in Figure III, and illustrating the initial operation of applying the cover-all cap to the beading of a bottle;

Figure VI is a side view of my invention, embodying a-metal tab as shown in Figure VIIIB, and illustrating an intermediate stage of applying the cover-all cap to the bottle;

Figure VII is a side view of my invention, embodying a metal tab as shown in Figure III and illustrating the complete cover-all cap secured in final position upon a bottle;

Figure VIII is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line IGL-XII of Figure VII;

Figure IX is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on line XIIL-XIII of Figure VII;

Figure X is a sectional view taken substantially on line XIVX[V of Figure III and illustrating a method of securing the metal tab to the fibrous cap or closure and also illustrating in dotted lines the final position of tab after folding the same;

Figure XI is a sectional view taken substantially in line XVXV of Figure IV and illustrating a method of securing a modified form of metal tab to the paper skirt, and also showing by dotted line the final folded position of the tab;

Figure XII is a sectional view taken substantially on line XVI-XVI of Figure I, illustrating a method and another form of my invention wherein bifurcated ends at one extremity of the metal tab are passed through the paper closure near its marginal edge, the said tab is folded away from the marginal edge, then passed back V through the closure and clinched to secure the same to the closure;

Figure XIII is a sectional view taken substantially on line XVII-XVII of Figure II and illustrating a still further modification of my invention where a metal tab is secured on the outside of the paper closure at or near its marginal edge;

Figure XIV shows a length of fiat ribbon or metal stock and illustrates how the tabs are cut therefrom, the final product being shown in Figures HI and X;

FiguraXV shows a length of metal stock and illustrates a modified form of tab, the final configuration being shown in Figures I and XII;

Figure XVI is a top plan view similar to Figure I, illustrating along with Figure XXVII, still further additional forms or my invention wherein the plait securing tabs are constructed of metal;

Figure XVII is a side view of my invention embodying a metal tab as shown in Figure XVI with securing means formed at each end, and illustrating the initial position of applying the cover-all cap to the heading of a bottle;

Figure XVIII is a side view of the closure of my invention embodying the metal tab illustrated in Figure XVII and showing an intermediate stage of applying the cover-all cap to the bottle;

Figure XIX is a side view of my invention, embodying the metal tab as shown in Figures XVII and XVIII, illustrating the complete coverall can secured in position upon a bottle;

Figure XX is a side view of my invention embodying a modified form of tab as shown in Figure XXVII with securing means at one end and embodying an additional tubular clinching or fastening means for securing same to closure, and illustrating the initial position of applying the cover-ali cap to bottle;

Figure XXI is a side view of my invention, embodying a metal tab as shown in Figures XXVII and XX, and illustrating an intermediate stage of applying the closure to a bottle;

Figure XXII is a side view of my invention embodying a metal tab as shown in Figures XXVII and XXI, illustrating the complete coverall cap secured in final position upon a bottle;

Figure XXIII is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line XXVII XXVII of Figure XIX;

Figure XXIV is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line XXVIII- XXVIII of Figure XXII;

Figure XXV is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on line XXIX-)QC[X of Figure XVI, illustrating the method of securing a metal tab to the fibrous cap, and also showing in dotted lines the final position of the tab in securing position;

Figure XXVI is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on line XXX-XXX of Figure XXVII, illustrating the method of securing the metal tab to the fibrous cap, and also showing final position of the tab in dotted lines;

Figure XXVIII is a top plan view of a cover-v all blank similar to Figures I and XVI, and with Figures XXIX, XXX, and XXXI further illustrates additional modified forms of my invention wherein the plait securing members are constructed of loop of wire;

Figure XXXII is a side view of my invention embodying one form of a wire type plait securing member as shown in Figure XXX and illustrating the initial operation of applying the coverall cap to the beading of a bottle;

Figure XXXIII is a side view of my invention, embodying the means shown in Figure XXXII and illustrating an intermediate stage of applying the cover-all cap to the bottle;

Figure XXXIV is a side View of my invention, embodying, the means as shown in Figures XXXI? and XXXIII, and illustrating the final position of same when cover-all cap is secured on a bottle;

Figure XXXV is a side view of myinvention embodying another form of a wire type plait securing means, as shown in Figure XXVIII;

Figure XXXVI is side view of my invention as shown in Figure XXXV and illustrating the intermediate stage of applying the cover-all cap on a bottle;

Figure IQIXVII is a side view of my invention as shown in Figures XXXV and XXXVI and showing the finai position of same when the cover-all cap is secured upon a bottle;

Figure XXXVIII is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on line XXXVIII-XXXVIII of Figure XXVIII;

Figure XXXIX is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on line XXXIXXXXIX of Figure XXVIII;

Figure XL is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on line XLXL of Figure XXXIX;

Figure XLI is a top plan view of a closure blank similar to Figure XVI and illustrating a further form of my invention wherein the blank is pre-scored for a desired number of triangular plaits, or radial folds and embodying metal enveloping or securing tabs;

Figure XLII is a fragmentary view similar to Figure XLI illustrating a modified form of metal tab;

Figure XLIII is a fragmentary view similar to Figure XLI showing a modified form of metal tab;

Figure XLIV is a fragmentary view similar to Figure XLI showing another form of metal tab;

Figure XLV is a side view of my invention showing a closure incorporating triangular shaped plaits and metal tabs, and illustrating an intermediate stage of applying the cover-all cap to a bottle;

Figure XLVI is a side view of my invention embodying the securing means shown in Figure )EV, and illustrating the final position of the cap on a bottle;

Figure XLVII is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line LILI of Figure XLVI;

Figure XLVIII is a top plan view of a closure blank similar to Figure XLI and illustrating my invention of a scored blank for triangular plaits and employing staples as plait enveloping or securing means;

Figure XLIX is a fragmentary view employing a modified form of staple;

Figure L is a fragmentary view similar to Figure XLVIII and XLIX employing a further modified form of staple;

Figure LI is a side view of my invention embodying the means shown in Figure XLVIII, and illustrating the final position of the closure with the plaits secured and enveloped by the folded staples.

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all of the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I employ a cover or closure blank 5, shown in Figure I, made of any suitabie material as, for example, fibrous or paper material readily pliable or foidable, in fiat or sheet form, which may be scored prior to its application to a bottle 6, the scoring being shown by dotted lines I on the blank sheet 5, or the blank may be folded at the time of its application to a container. With particular reference to Figure VII, I have. illustrated a completed closure or cap 8 properly secured over the mouth of a bottle;

The closure or cap of this invention consists of a fiat impcrforate top cover portion I ii with depending side portions or skirt il adapted to form a closure which can be contracted about the beading of a bottle mouth. This skirt portion is preferably scored where it is desired to be folded as shown dotted at 1, so that a number of triangular shaped plaits l2 are formed and in the particular embodiment shown by Figures I through XLI an even number of plaits are used. four pairs are shown for illustration, although any number may be employed. These plaits being formed in pairs, at equal distances from each adjoining pair, are folded towards each other so that the lower end, or tip portions H of said plaits approach each other or overlap to any desired extent.

The closure cap of this invention as shown in Figures XLI through LI consists of a similar arrangement except that the plaits are not folded in pairs.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures I to IV inclusive, I have shown four types of metal tabs, designated by numerals 20, 2|, 22 and 23. The four types shown are generally composed of a single, comparatively short, length of flat wire or metallic ribbon. For example, I prefer to employ tinned or coated fiat band material about five sixteenths of an inch wide and five eighths of an inch long, of desired thickness and suitable temper to remain in set formation once it is folded into final or desired securing position. My preferred form of tab 20 which may be severed from said flat wire or metal stock without waste of material, as illustrated in Figure XIV, and attached to the skirt portion ll of the closure, as is shown in Figures III and X.

The tab 2| is another form of my invention, preferably made of metal, the tab embodying a slight bow or curved portion 24, as shown dotted in Figure V and full lines in Figure XV. When tab 2| is folded against the tip portion l4 of plaits l2, this bow or curved portion provides a degree of resiliency and maintains the free end portion 25 of tab 2i in contact with said plaits. The two forms shown by tabs 20 and 2| are attached to the inside wall of skirt portion H of cap 8 and folded to pass under the lower edge thereof and vertically upward on the outside of the skirt.

The two forms 22 and 23, now to be explained, do not pass under the lower edge of said skirt, but are placed on the outside of said skirt. Tabs 22 shown in Figures I, XII and XV are flat metal strips similar to tab 20 with the exception that they are formed with bifurcated leg portions 26 for attaching the tabs to the skirt portion H of cap 8, the two longitudinal separated parallel portions 26 are provided with puncturing ends 21. These ends 21 are driven completely through the fibrous stock at or near the marginal edge of the skirt, and the leg portions 26 are doubled or folded upward, the ends 21 again passing back through the fibrous stock at a point away from the marginal edge and clinched as shown in Figure XII to secure same to the outside of the skirt portion of the closure.

The form of tab 23 shown in Figures II and XIII is a flat metal strip arranged to be secured to the outside of the skirt portion ll of cap 8. The tab 23 is cut from a flat stock similar to tab 20 shown in Figure XLV and is formed with a spur 28 preferably integral with the body of the tab, the spur being adapted to be forced through the fibrous stock and clinched. This tab also has the two puncturing ends or clinching projections 30 common to all four types of tabs 20, 2|, 22 and 23 illustrated.

Two additional forms which may also be employed are indicated at 32 and 33 in Figures XVI and XXVII. Tab 32 is approximately five sixteenths of an inch wide and one inch in length and of any suitable thickness. Both ends of the tab are provided with spur members, two spurs 34 punched from the metal tab are forced through the fibrous material and clinched near the marginal edge of the cap. Spurs 34 are formed and remain the same until the tab 32 is folded upward as shown in Figure XIX, at which time spurs 34 are forced through the fibrous stock above the folded plaits l2 and clinched, thus holding the tab 32 permanently in closure securing position. Tabs 33 are preferably approximately three eighths of an inch in width and one and one-quarter inches in length and may be of any suitable thickness. One end of each tab 33 is provided with the usual spurs 30 and secured to the cap skirt H by clinching as shown in Figures XVI, XX, XXI and XXVI. The attached end of tab 33 is provided with a locking-stud or collar 35 adapted to extend through an opening 35' in the opposite or free end of tab 33, so that the tab ends may be locked by clinching, thus holding plaits l2 in position shown in Figures XXII and XXIV.

As a further modified form of the invention, I have provided closure securing means consisting of a loop of wire as a plait enveloping means andshown in Figures XXVIII through XL. Figures XXVIII to XXXI inclusive show a cover blank 5 embodying four novel types of wire loop plait enveloping means designated by numerals 36, 31, 38 and 33. Wire member 36 shown in Figures XXX is a form of light wire staple or ball, the free ends 31' of which are passed through the cap skirt and clinched on the outside of the skirt. In closure applying position, the body of the staple is later folded under the lower edge of the skirt II and vertically upward to position shown in Figure XXXIV, thus retaining the tip portions ll of plaits 12 in folded position.

Wire member 31 shown in Figure XXXI is a modified form of bail type plait enveloping means wherein the open loop or bight portion 40 is formed on the outside of blank 5, the two legs 4| of the wire member 31, pass down through the fibrous blank 5. Extensions 42 of leg portions 41 pass along the under side of blank 5 away from the marginal edge thereof, then are passed up through the cap member and folded towards the marginal edge of the blank to clinch the free ends 43, as shown in Figure XL. The body of the wire member is later folded to envelop the tip portions l4 of plaits l2 similar to that shown by member 36 in Figure XXXIV.

Wire member 38 shown in Figure XXVIII is another form of bail type plait enveloping means, wherein the bail 48 is formed on the under side of blank 5, the legs 44 extending inward, away from the edge of the blank and extending up through the skirt of the closure, the portions 45 of the wire being exposed on the upper side of the blank and arranged diagonally, the extrem ities of the leg portions passing downwardly again through the blank and the ends 46 clinched on under side of blank. The body of the staple is later folded to envelop the tip portions I4 of plaits l2 as illustrated in Figure XXXVII.

Wire member 39 shown in Figure XXIX is a further form of bail type plait enveloping means, wherein the body portion 40 is positioned on the underside of closure blank 5. The leg portions are passed through from the underside of said blank 5 and clinched on outside of blank similar to the arrangement of member 36. However, the leg portions 48 are not parallel, the free ends being widely separated, the legs tapered towards the closed bight portion 40. The member 39 is later folded around under the lower edge of skirt H then upwards enveloping the tip portions I4 of plaits l2, similar to that shown by member 36 in Figure XXXIV.

Further modified forms of the closure of my invention as shown by Figures XLI through LI inclusive embodying plaits which are not folded towards each other in pairs, but folded all in one direction around the periphery of the cap.

Figure XLI illustrates a closure blank 64 provided with skirt portion 65 and a number of scored single folds 66, these folds being substantially triangular in shape. The intermediate skirt-portions have enveloping tabs 20 secured adjacent to the scored plaits as shown. I have illustrated three forms of tabs which may be employed as shown in Figure XLII by tab 2|, shown in Figure XLIII by tab 23 and shown in Figure XLIV by the tab 22, all of which have been previously described in connection with Figures I to IV inclusive.

It will be observed from Figure XLV that upon application of the closure blank 64 to the bottle mouth, the skirt 65 is folded downwardly and plaits 66 formed, and caused to contact with the intermediate portion of the skirt 65, the tabs 20 being folded upwardly to envelop the plaits as is shown in Figure L.

Figure XLVIII shows a type of cap 64 having triangular scored plaits as hereinbefore described incorporating staples 36, 31 and 38, all of which have been previously described in connection with Figures XXVIII to XXIG inclusive. Figure LI shows a cap embodying staples and in final position on a bottle, the plaits are arranged with the staples folded upwardly to envelop said plaits.

It is to be noted that the particular construction of bottle closure herelnbefore described, is of a simple inexpensive nature, that it affords a complete covering for the mouth of the bottle and will prevent the accumulation of foreign matter around the mouth of the bottle, and that the cap can be quickly and easily applied, and subsequently removed from the bottle without special tools, the depending flange or skirt portion always presenting a continuous closed wall both in its contracted and expanded conditions.

While specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, it will of course be understood that, changes and variations in the particular constructions shown, and the carrying out of the invention in other forms, as will appeal to those skilled in the art and falling within the scope of the appended claims, may

be practiced without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claimis:

1. A container closure of foldable material comprising a central portion and 9. depending skirt portion, said skirt portion being formed with a plurality of plaits, and metallic enveloping means attached to the underside of the un derlying skirt portion and folded under the lower edge of the skirt and upwardly embracing said plait to the intermediate portions of the skirt, said enveloping means provided with a plurality of spurs to retain the same in folded position.

2. A container closure of foldable material comprising a central portion and a depending skirt portion, said skirt portion being formed with a plurality of plaits arranged in pairs and metallic enveloping means attached to the skirt portion and folded under the lower edge of the skirt and upwardly embracing each pair of plaits to the underlying portion of the skirt, said metallic means being provided with a locking stud to retain the same in folded position.

3. A container closure of foldable material comprising a central portion and a marginal depending skirt portion, said skirt portion being formed with a plurality of plaits; a plurality of metallic members attached to the underlying skirted portion by a pair of spaced projections and adapted to be folded to embrace said plaits for holding the same in position against the portions of the container.

4. A container closure of fibrous material comprising a central portion and a depending skirt portion, said skirt portion being formed with a plurality of spaced plaits arranged in pairs; a plurality of metallic members attached to the underlying skirt portion by two spaced projections and folded to embrace each pair of plaits and hold the same in position against the underlying skirt portion.

5. A container closure of foldable material comprising a central portion and a skirt portion, said skirt portion being formed with a plurality of spaced plaits; a plurality of metallic tabs attached by two spaced clinching spurs to the skirt portion between said plaits, said tabs adapted to be folded to embrace said plaits and hold the same in position.

6. A container closure comprising a central portion and a marginal depending skirt portion, said skirt portion being formed with a plait and a connecting section; a pliable metallic member anchored to said connecting skirt portion by a plurality of means arranged to prevent tilting of said metallic member, said member adapted to be folded to enclose portions of the plait and connecting section for holding the closure in position on a container.

7. A container closure comprising a central portion and a marginal depending skirt portion, said skirt portion being formed with a plurality of plaits with connecting sections; a plurality of pliable metallic members anchored to said connecting skirt portions by a plurality of means arranged to prevent vertical displacement of said metallic member, said members adapted to be folded to enclose portions of said plaits and connecting sections for holding the closure in posi tion against exterior portions of the container.

CHRISTIAN H. BRINTON.

(ill 

